Art comp ‘leafs’ students smiling

COIMADAI Primary School has shown off its artistic flair, winning an art competition with a vibrant piece created by all of its seventy-two pupils.

Among the Gum Trees, inspired by the school’s location, won The Village Bacchus Marsh’s Education Week art competition this month, as voted by the public.

Coimadai Primary School principal Moira Ross said it was an exciting time for the school community, especially given its relatively small size.

“Over a combined effort, it took about three days for the kids to put together. Each grade went out, gathered leaves, decorated them and glued them on,” Ms Ross said.

“Our art teacher Loretta used Mallacoota bark to create the words on the art. Our school song is School Among the Gum Trees, which inspired the name of the artwork.

“We were extremely excited to hear we’d won. We’re such a small school, and all the other schools have so many students and their families to vote for them.

“For us to win against schools with 700 or more students is very exciting.”

The win also earned Coimadai Primary a $500 Officeworks voucher, and Ms Ross said it’ll be going towards something art-related that the students would like.

“The children are brainstorming what they’d like in arts, whether it’s tools, more equipment, more supplies, et cetera,” she said.

And as for where the winning artwork will be displayed?

“We’ll put it up in the front office, very much pride of place,” Ms Ross said.